Brain cells need sugar, but too much of it can cause trouble

1:49 PM,
Feb. 26, 2013

Granulated sugar is used to sweeten all sorts of foods.

Written by

When you see sugar in your kitchen or on your table, it might be hard to think it came from a plant - but it did.

About 70 percent of the world's supply of sugar comes from sugar cane, a member of the grass family, that is grown as a crop in tropical parts of the world. About 30 percent of sugar comes from sugar beets, which grow in temperate climates.

Many fruits and vegetables contain sugar, which is stored in the plants for future need, much the way fat is stored in people and animals. Sugar cane and sugar beets are particularly good at this. About 10 percent of the sugar cane plant, which can grow to 15 feet ...